Hi Gals, I was just hoping for some feedback for math next year. We have always use MUS and love it (well, dd doesn't love math but we get it done w/minimal complaint:) I love that it's easy for me to teach and gets done in a reasonable amount of time. Next year she'll be a part of our coop's high school academy and can take Saxon math there. I'm drawn to letting someone else teach this....in case I get over my head. But I've heard some negatives about Saxon Geometry (maybe problems have been fixed?), and current Saxon Algebra I students meet for 50 min. at coop and then have about 1 1/2 hrs. of work every day (the other 4 days). That just seems so long for math on top of everything else. Just wondering if I could get some views on the quality difference between each program. Thanks:) Blessings, Gina

SCM is great for intertwining Bible with history, if you don't mind spending 3 years on ancients. The plan is very mom-friendly and easy to follow:)

Lori D....thanks, that's very helpful to know. I assumed LLftLOTR would be all we needed for English. If used as written do you have a daily time estimate for a pretty strong reader who has read LOTR before (doing program at age 13 or so?) Mims....that's a possibility. Maybe I could do both Jump In and LLftLOTR in 8th. Or maybe extend both over 7th/8th? I believe Jump In can be stretched 2 yrs. Thoughts? Thx for heads up on LOTW. It scares me a bit, and I'm trying to get writing programs done before high school since MFW had writing covered. Maybe I should relax and not try to squeeze LTOW in. Not sure. Cheryl....thanks! If I do decide on LTOW I suppose taking 7th and 8th to finish might be better. Thx for input ladies as I try to sort this out! Does anyone have experience with LTOW and the writing instruction in MFW high school? I'd rather skip LTOW bit feel like I'm missing out....

Hello, I'm planning writing for the next few years for my current 5th grader. He'll soon be finished with Writing Tales II. I was thinking of one year each of Jump In, LTOW, and Literary Lessons from the LOTR. I'm just wondering if doing both Jump In and LTOW would be redundant? Haven't seen LTOW up close. My other options might be to: Skip Jump In and extend LTOW and LL from LOTR to 1 1/2 yrs each, or Skip Jump In and do LTOW I AND II, then LL from LOTR I love Jump In and have never used the others. Just trying to figure the most productive use of time:) Thx for any input! Blessings, Gina

Thx! I was planning on using it for 7th or 8th with my youngest. I hoped to complete in a year. Do you think that's doable? He's a strong reader/strong vocabulary, and it will be his 2nd or 3rd time through those 3 books. He's also 'old' for his grade....will be just turned 13 when starting 7th grade. Thx:)

Thanks for the inside look:) It does sound doable, I'll probably just try to fit them in without the program. Maybe when ds does the guide we can share what we learn:)

We've pretty much decided on MFW for high school next year for dd. I'd originally planned on using another curriculum where lit. wasn't included and wanted to do Lit. Lessons from the Lord of the Rings in 9th for English. But now since MFW covers English, that seems like it would be too much to do both. Is there anyway to combine the two w/o being overwhelming? She'll have a very full day as it is and will likely balk at too much extra work:) My 5th grade son is already excited about using this in Jr. Hi., but dd won't be as much so...liked The Hobbit o.k. I'm hoping she'll love LOTR. Or maybe I should just add the books to her extra/summer reading list and forget about the full program. Any thoughts? Thanks:) Gina

We do school Charlotte Mason style and I try to ask for narrations of most readings. Kids should be told that there will be one reading and to pay attention....when I'm reading to both my kids they don't know who I'm going to call on to narrate:) If someone is not paying attention I'll threaten that if it happens again they'll have to go read it on their own and narrate to me separately later on their own time...haven't had to follow through much on this because they generally pay attention:) Also, your kids are young...I'd make sure readings are short. If this skill needs to be developed, Aesop's Fables are good, short stories to start with. Hope something was helpful:) Blessings, Gina P.S. Sorry, I don't know of any online assessments. But it honestly doesn't sound too concerning to me since they are so young. We've used Critical Thinking Co's Reading Detective series when a bit older....

Yeah, that's tough when church friends are public schooled. My daughter's public schooled neighbor friends think she should go, too:) Hope you can find a good social/co-op fit!

Ah, can't believe I never noticed that quote button! Thanks:) I don't believe our local public high school does shadow days....I think they just let you visit (we weren't seriously considering it, so I'm not positive). The charter school has limited shadow days, and the private school offers them often...wants those student $$:) Just what's done here locally. Do you have a co-op? Relationships are so important at this age. We're fortunate to be a part of a large co-op that has a high school academy that meets weekly for core subjects. She had a good shadow day there and knew some people, so it felt comfortable and enjoyable for her. If we didn't have something like that, I think she'd be more serious about the school option. The Shadow Day at the private school did help. She just commented today that it was a 'long day.' And I reminded her that she didn't even have to do the homework part:) Maybe you could give her a week or two like public school...wake her early, work her all day, and give her homework. I'm sure that would go over well!

I should say that I did need to help w/writing and polishing the rough draft, but that's only about 2 days of work out of 2 weeks....the rest they worked mostly independently.

I loved Writing Tales at this age: http://www.writing-tales.com/ It's very open and go:)

"She will likely use apologia for outside courses in high school, unless her dream of public school becomes a reality." How do you all copy w/the full boxes? :) Just wanted to add that this summer my dd also brought up maybe wanting to go to school (for high school). It broke my heart, but hubby thought it should be her decision at this age. I finally came around some and we have actually let her shadow a private school, and we are considering a charter public school (classical, top-rated, very strict). It has been really good for me to boost my confidence....the classes at the rigorous private school were nothing that exceptional. And it was good for her to take some of the mystery of school out...she has never been to school. I think we're all leaning back towards homeschooling high school now (I hope), and if so I think it will be good because she'll have more ownership in it and realizes that while her days will be longer in homeschool h.s. than jr. hi., she's still be saving a good 3 hours a day compared to school kids by not having a commute and homework. She would have to give us some good reasons why she thinks school is better, too. I wouldn't just say 'it's your choice' and then have her pick school for foolish reasons and then have worse attitude:)

Thanks, that's good confirmation to what I was thinking/planning:)

I've had some similar issues w/my now 8th grade dd. She's had moodiness issues, is not super academic, doesn't particularly love school (and loves animals:) As you said, I do notice things go better when she is independent in most things. Her attitude has been getting better lately, too...so maybe next year won't be as difficult for you! I'm switching to MFW for high school so she can have History/Bible/English totally independent and I know it's full, but not too overwhelming. For 8th have you seen: http://www.notgrass.com/notgrass/America-the-Beautiful-Curriculum-Package.html? I haven't used it, but have heard good things. That would cover History/Bible/Lit. independently, I believe. I don't have suggestions for science. I do believe if a child is college-bound Apologia is a good choice. I admit I've simplified it for 8th. She's doing Physical Science and I bought the notebooking journal which has a built-in schedule so she knows what to do every day, and I bough the lab materials kit. I also let her do the test open book one day, and the next day take the test w/o the book. She doesn't complain about science now like she did w/Apologia General. I also thought I saw an animal curriculum once put out by 4-H...not sure of grade level, though. My dd also didn't care for our past writing program, but is doing pretty well w/Jump In. I think it's a solid 8th grade program to solidify essay writing skills before high school, and it's pretty independent. Don't know if that helps any. Hope you figure out a good plan:) Blessings, Gina

Yes, Julie...thanks!!! I copied it and sent to my inbox for reference:) I'd forgotten about the Selfish Pig book. We were at the English L'Abri this summer and a worker let me peruse hers and I thought it was a great book and completely forgot:) Thanks!

Julie and cbollin....thanks, that's very helpful to know that year 4 of MFW is easy to sub out bible, since we wouldn't be considering online courses until Jr./Sr. year anyway. Julie...I agree. Just seeing the scope and sequence of MFW does help me w/planning, I think...so we can try to sub related items and keep the general scope and sequence. And agreed on the dad issue, good point...thanks. Wingedradical...thanks very much. We are not reformed...sort of Calvminian? :) Wingedradical and Miss Marple...very helpful about the history credits. I think it would take too much tweaking for my liking. Guess I'm leaning towards MFW but adding/subbing in some Quine materials at this point. Thanks very much to all!! Your experience and input has helped me work through my issues. Many blessings:) Gina

That's a definite possibility, thanks:) He doesn't have the time to develop a full scope and sequence of what he would consider a solid 4-yr. program, but maybe just tweaking some things w/MFW might work. He's highly academic...much more than dd or myself:) More to ponder...thanks:)

Miss Marple, thanks for more insight into WWW. Did you add anything else for History? It looks incredible for worldview, but is history covered enough? I love the looks of this program, but don't want to get overwhelmed either...thanks for the suggestions. Thanks, Julie...sorry I wasn't clear! I meant the program as a whole covering Schaeffer, Augustine, etc. and we'd just begin w/Starting Points. Good point...maybe it could be more Schaeffer than we need. I really want the format of MFW and love all it covers, just need to find a way to add/sub. some things since I also love the looks of WWW. A friend is bringing over a copy of MFW so hopefully I'll get a better idea of how doable it would be to tweak it. Do you think it would be hard to sub out some bible books in years 1 and 2 (same topic, just different books?) Then in years 3 and 4 we'd like her to do some online bible classes so might have to skip MFW's bible those years. Is MFW too intertwined to skip their bible selections those years? Thanks again:) I hope to get this all figured out soon! Blessings, Gina

Thanks for the input. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at trying to figure out a high school plan! I'd like something like MFW, but hubby wants deeper books by authors he prefers. Maybe we can adapt MFW, but not sure about that. I'd love to take Starting Points w/our co-op, but since it requires 2 hours of work per day we'd only have time if this was our main curriculum...I couldn't take this much time for the class on top of 3 hours per day for MFW. Ugh. Just don't know what to do. I'd love your links if you get the chance. Thanks!!! And am I missing any other curriculum? I'd like something written to the student, w/parental helps, w/strong biblical worldview studying Schaeffer, Augustine, etc., and full history credits. Maybe I should consider Omnibus, but it scares me:) Thanks! Gina

Hi all. I couldn't fine much in a search so was wondering if anybody has used David Quine's material and could give input. Hubby is a theologian and is not particularly impressed w/the theology in most homeschool curriculums. He's a big fan of Francis Schaeffer and thinks any church history program should include a study of Augustine (among other things) so I'm trying to find something to fit. Omnibus may do this but I don't know if we're up for it:) DD will be in 9th next year and our co-op offers Starting Points. My main concern w/Quine's material is that there doesn't seem to be much history in it...as far as learning the main events of history. Do you supplement? If so, with what? Also, I read there are no parent helps? Is that still the case? Hubby has probably read most of the books, so that would help, and I know I should and would try to read many as I can. Also, what do you need to add for an English credit? Thanks so much for any input!! Blessings, Gina

Thanks, Julie, for brainstorming w/me:) I suppose there's not 'bad' option. I just need to pray and ponder over which might work best. Fortunately, I don't have to make a decision right away. I appreciate your input and will need to keep re-visiting this thread as I try to figure out which option would be best. Thanks again for your time and ideas:) Blessings, Gina

Thanks for the advice! I'll have to think on that. Ds just commented that he was looking forward to studying Rome next year. We visited there last summer and I wanted to study it somewhat close to our trip:) Thanks for the tip...I didn't know there was a little review in 1850MOD. That would help fill the gap nicely if we go this route. Or maybe it would be simplest to just stick w/our current curriculum until h.s. Much to pray and ponder:) Thanks again!

My other thought is doing: 6th: MFW Rome-Reformation 7th: Notgrass America the Beautiful (to cover American in one year) 8th: MFW ECC I kind of hate jumping around in curriculums...I guess the question is whether it's worth it to fit in ECC? Thanks again for your time:) Gina

Oh, I know this is a high school board, but since I have your ear....if you have a moment:) I'm also considering doing MFW next year w/my (then) 6th grader. We've been doing a 6 yr. history cycle w/another curriculum and will finish Greece this year. Would it be best to just finish out the history cycle for 6th-8th? It think that's Rome-Reformation for 6th, then American for 7th/8th? Is there mapping included w/those? ECC sounds interesting, but no time to do it all:) Thanks! Gina